Let me paint a picture.
Back when I worked in corporate corporate, I was the only Black woman in literally every room and meeting I walked into. Picture it: young Software Engineer, still learning the ropes, imposter syndrome doing backflips in my brain. (If I had a wig, sis would’ve snatched it clean off and left the wig cap in the corner mumbling Psalm 23.)
I wanted to grow. I asked questions, raised my hand, stayed late, showed up early—and still, I was expected to give more and accept less. Less money. Fewer opportunities. More scrutiny. Bonus time rolled around, and while the rest of the team was stacking $10K checks, I got a whopping $900. I wish I was joking.
And yes, this was during the BLM boom when companies were “amplifying Black voices” on paper and silencing us in meetings. One coworker—a fellow POC, no less—once asked me, loud enough for the entire floor to hear, “Do you even know what you’re doing?” I wanted to disappear, but instead, I stayed. I stayed and watched myself shrink.
But eventually, I realized:
I wasn’t the problem.
The room was.
Why I Give a Damn (and Why You Should Too)
I started Sol Co. Studio because I knew other heart-led Black women like me were being overlooked, underpaid, and straight-up undervalued in rooms we were more than qualified to be in. We weren’t lacking professionalism or polish. We were lacking spaces designed with us in mind.
Your brand doesn’t need to beg. It needs to resonate.
Your website isn’t a digital Costco tray handing out free samples—it’s a full-course experience for the people you’re meant to serve.
3 Ways to Build a Brand & Website That Pays You to Be You
1. Stop giving away your energy without direction.
Not everything needs to go on your homepage. Not every follower is your audience. You don’t owe the internet vulnerability with no boundaries. Start by getting clear on who you serve and what transformation you offer. Your mission deserves structure, not just vibes.
✨ Tool Up: Use this [Brand Strategy Workbook] to clarify your message and claim your space with intention.
2. Design with purpose, not just Pinterest inspiration.
Pretty ain’t enough. Your website needs to work—for your goals, your clients, and your peace of mind. That means building a site that makes people stop scrolling, trust your work, and book you. That’s the difference between a pretty portfolio and a brand that pays.
✨ Next Step: Take the [Website Personality Quiz] to uncover your brand vibe and start building with strategy.
3. Charge like you believe in your work.
Sis. Please. No more undercharging just to be “accessible.” Accessibility also looks like you being able to pay your bills, outsource, rest, and build wealth. The right folks will pay for the value you bring—especially when your brand and website reflect your full, powerful, unapologetic self.
✨ Need Support?: Book your project or inquire here to build a website that’s as rooted and refined as you are.
Final Word: Take Up Digital Space
You give a damn—and it shows in the work you do. It’s time your brand and website show it too. Whether you’re leading in your community, running a small-but-mighty biz, or sharing your story online, your presence matters.
Sol Co. Studio is here to help you build that presence—with strategy, storytelling, and a little twerking in between. Because being yourself? That’s the most powerful brand move you can make.
Ready to stop giving Costco energy to a gourmet brand? Let’s build something rooted.
[Discover the Website Personality That Helps You Lead With Impact]